The Secret Language of Birthdays:
Teen Edition
by Alicia Thompson

Mystic teens, scientific teens, and teens in between are going to have a lot of fun with this spin-off of the million-copy-selling adult book, also known as the personality bible. There’s astrological insight for every birthday of the year, as well as quizzes, profiles, and lots of other extras. Descriptions of friends, crushes, and family members will be so uncannily accurate--and often funny--kids will be going back for more. Shopping Style for a birth date? It’s here. Best Date? Covered. I can see this being passed around from hand to hand wherever teenagers are found.

While steampunk is not a new trend--favorite classics by authors such as Jules Verne and William Gibson fall firmly under the category--it has undergone a revival in the last several years that has spilled over into teen literature. Steampunk has its roots in science fiction and fantasy though it's more old-fashioned with leanings toward the future. One of the defining features of steampunk storytelling is its focus on alternate history, exploring a historical path if one factor would have been different, with out-of-place technology. The world of steampunk is full of clockwork industrial images, gas-lighted streets, steam engines, brass bits, waistcoats, goggles, and villains inventing strange technologies. Here’s a roundup of titles perfect for your teen readers. Consider hosting a steampunk book club or event for fans of this intriguing genre.

Grey Griffins: The Clockwork Chronicles #1 by Derek Benz and J.S. Lewis

The Boneshaker by Kate Milford

Worldshaker by Richard Harland

Fever Crumb by Philip Reeve

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld